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Jorenn Village is a large village in close proximity to the Umbra Hills in the Black Valley north of Westruun in the east part of the Cliffkeep Mountains.
Description[]
Leading into the village is the Blackvalley Path that runs along the edge of the Bramblewood Forest closer to Westruun. Jorenn is far from Emon, and so, despite being a part of the Republic of Tal'Dorei, has often fallen prey to those taking advantage of the lack of influence the Tal'Dorei Council holds there.[2]
Fan art of the Ass Sailor in Jorenn Village, by Shara Maestache.[art 3]
The town hall and headquarters of the Shadewatch is the multi-story Shade Hall.[3] The village also has a bar called The Scattered Bar[4] (an apparent reference to the Scattered War, the final battle of which occurred in the nearby Umbra Hills), and, depending on whether "Critical Role: Bar Room Blitz" (Sx21) is canon, a tavern called The Ass Sailor.[5]
Society[]
Demographics[]
In 812 PD, the majority of the 1,873 residents in Jorenn Village were human (68%), with substantial minorities of dwarves (10%), halflings (8%), and other races (14%).[2]
By 836 PD, the population jumped to 2,480. Gnomes became a substantial minority of 7%, while the percentages of other races receded slightly: the humans remained in the majority (64%), followed by dwarves (9%), halflings (7%), and other races (13%).[6]
History[]
For many years, Jorenn Village was a tiny pioneer town, relying primarily on trade of shadegrass from the nearby Umbra Hills. However, silver veins were discovered around 742 PD,[7] and Jorenn Village has since become something of a boom town.[2]
The Shadewatch forms[]
Around 802 PD the Shadewatch was formed from a small group of mercenaries and vigilantes hoping to protect the town. Initially, they slew many threats from the surrounding areas and attracted members looking to make a name for themeselves, and eventually became the unofficial arm of the law in Jorenn Village.[8]
Fan art of Derowen, by Jess Radley.[art 4]
One of the leading figures in the establishment of the Shadewatch was a human woman, Derowen, who had relocated there with her daughter Aswin and a longtime companion, Wick.[9] Derowen's brother Culwen already was or would soon become a leader of the Westruun territory of the criminal organization called the Clasp.[10]
When Derowen, Wick, and Aswin arrived, Jorenn Village was a dangerous place, and Derowen took it upon herself to teach the people how to defend themselves, eventually turning the town guard into the Shadewatch.[11] According to Sencha, Derowen "wasn't the first [Shademaster], but she was the first to convince the majority of the people in town to believe in her."[12] She had a "tenuous friendship" with Anissa, who led the miners.[13]
When the miners accidentally unleashed the ash walkers, Derowen's sentiments toward the miners shifted. She mobilized the people to build palisades around the village. A year after the attacks began, Culwen found out where Derowen was, and gave her the magical ring Fracture. He allegedly found it in his travels and gave it to her in exchange for a workspace in Shade Hall, but in reality, he offered it as a way to protect her town in exchange for her loyalty. According to Wick, Derowen hated the ring at first, until she learned how to use it.[14] Derowen claimed that the ring created a barrier that repelled the ash walkers, but in reality, she used it to summon and control the ash walkers; the barrier was an illusion.[15] Though the ring appeared to give some protection, the attacks only increased, prompting Jorenn Village to take control of the mines from which the ash walkers were emerging.[16] According to Thorn, however, it was less about controlling the ash walkers than it was about greed.[17] Derowen declared the miners to be outlaws, responsible for bringing danger to the area and for the loss of many lives.[18] She led the charge against them and killed her former friend Anissa, among many others.[19]
By 807 PD,[20] Derowen controlled Jorenn Village, its guard, and its mining operations and trade.[21] She appeared to be the de facto leader of the town, as the council of elders was no longer in power.[22] She lived in Shade Hall with Aswin, and had an office on its second floor, above which was Culwen's office.[23] The people of Jorenn Village regarded her as a hero.[24] She had issued a standing order to the Shadewatch to hunt the outlawed miners.[25] They believed that Derowen saw them as a threat to her silver trade more than a threat to the community; they felt that she was also preventing them from working elsewhere, intent on killing them and capturing their leader, Thorn.[26]
Derowen was known by the miners to meet with smugglers to sell silver.[27] The idea to begin smuggling was Culwen's, when Derowen gained access to the mines.[28] In a secret compartment in her desk, she kept a coded notebook with details of this activity, including transactions for silver, gems, and craftwork in exchange for gold with traders from Drynna, Kymal, Turst Fields, and Westruun.[29] On the last page of the notebook was a list of nearly two dozen names, including Anissa's and those of other miners, about half of which were marked as "eliminated."[26] On one page, she named Culwen in association with Westruun.[30] Derowen made a personal profit from the smuggling, which she kept hidden from the people of Jorenn and justified as being security for herself and Aswin, while Culwen profited from the share owed to the Clasp.[31]
Kith & Kin[]
Around 807 PD,[20] Spireling Gideor of the Westruun Clasp contracted Vax'ildan to steal Fracture, which he described as an heirloom currently possessed by the Shadewatch.[32] The true motivation behind the contract appeared to be that Gideor became aware of Derowen and Culwen personally profiting from their smuggling, and wanted to put a stop to it.[33]
Derowen encountered Vex'ahlia and Trinket during an ash walker attack on Jorenn Village. Vax'ildan brought his twin sister with him to fulfill the contract, but the two were separated by the ash walkers. During the attack, Derowen stood on the palisades, apparently using Fracture to create a barrier around the village.[34] As thanks for their aid, and because she felt responsible for the attack, Derowen offered to let Vex'ahlia and Trinket stay at Shade Hall, and to help them search for Vax'ildan.[35] She rode out with Vex'ahlia to the campsite where she had last seen her brother, accompanied by two Shadewatch guards, Nari and Olfa.[36]
Over the next several days, Vex'ahlia continued to stay at Shade Hall, and Derowen gave her access to her books and maps. She gave Vex'ahlia as much aid as she could, in the hopes that she could locate the miners' hideout.[37] Eventually, a scout found the miners.[38]
Four days later,[39] Derowen led the charge against the miners in their hideout.[40] She encouraged Vex'ahlia to find her brother amidst the fray[41] while she ordered the Shadewatch to continue pushing through, despite the presence of ash walkers.[42] When Derowen came upon Thorn and the twins, she asked the twins to step aside to let her capture the leader of the miners, but Vax'ildan let Thorn escape.[43] The fight against the ash walkers continued for several more hours.[44] From Vax'ildan and the miners' perspective, Derowen and the Shadewatch's actions during the fight weren't "about justice," but about "kill[ing] everyone but Thorn."[26]
The next morning, Derowen let the Shadewatch and the twins back into Jorenn Village.[45] She met with the twins in her office and properly introduced herself to Vax'ildan. She asked him many questions about his involvement with the miners; both maintained a diplomatic tone, but disagreed about how Jorenn Village treated the miners. Derowen was visibly angry when Vax'ildan mentioned Anissa and asked about Fracture.[46] Later that day, while Derowen was out of her office, Vax'ildan broke in and stole a notebook from her desk.[47]
The following day, Vax'ildan brought the stolen notebook to the miners.[48] That afternoon, Derowen sent the Shadewatch back to the miners' hideout in a second attempt to capture Thorn. Despite her order to take him alive and Thorn's immediate surrender, the guards were violent.[49] That night, ash walkers emerged from the mines to attack Jorenn Village again. Once again, Derowen stood above the gate, casting a spell, with Wick to protect her.[50] Culwen soon joined her. After some time, Derowen appeared to create the barrier, repelling the ash walkers.[51]
Derowen allowed Vex'ahlia and Trinket to stay in Shade Hall another night, but took away all of Vex's possessions except her clothing and a book on dragons. At some point between Thorn's capture in the mines and the following morning, Derowen or Shadewatch guards acting on her orders further injured Thorn and shackled him in an antechamber with minimal care for his wounds. Derowen summoned Vex'ahlia and Trinket in the morning. She sent the Shadewatch to collect the remaining miners; the adults were jailed and the children confined to The Scattered Bar. Vex'ahlia confronted Derowen about the notebook and the evidence within of her smuggling. Derowen believed the ranger's lie that there was a contingency plan to deliver the notebook to the Clasp, should either of the twins be killed. She told Vex'ahlia that she would allow the miners a fair judgement and would find homes for their orphaned children.[52]
Vex'ahlia demanded a trade of their freedom for the notebook, but Derowen insisted that Thorn be an exception; he knew too much about her operations. Derowen brought Vex'ahlia to an antechamber where Thorn was imprisoned, and despite Thorn's willingness to be a martyr, Vex'ahlia refused Derowen's counter-offer. When Derowen learned that Culwen knew about the notebook, she showed true fear and began formulating a plan to protect herself. She stabbed Thorn in the stomach, inflicting "[t]he type of wound that any good hunter would avoid, because it would take Thorn a long time to die."[53] Vex'ahlia took advantage of a moment of distraction to arm herself and insisted on Thorn's freedom once again, but Derowen attacked Vex'ahlia. During their duel, alarms sounded twice: the town was under attack by ash walkers. Derowen seemed prepared to kill Vex'ahlia, but was stopped by Culwen's arrival. He asked her to call off the ash walkers, but they did not seem to be acting under her control. Vex'ahlia escaped the room and left them to fight as Vax'ildan arrived.[54]
Culwen murdered his sister for her failure to keep their smuggling secret, attempted to take Fracture from her finger, and hoped to frame Vax'ildan for the killing, but Vax killed Culwen[55] and soon explained to Wick what had happened.[56] After Vex'ahlia stopped the ash walker attack, she gave Fracture to Wick. Wick was hesitant about taking a position of leadership in the town, but remained as Aswin's guardian,[57] and after a few days appeared to have come around to being a leader. He released the captive miners and allowed Thorn to recover from his injuries at the Shade Hall. When they later met near the mines, Wick told Thorn that the miners were welcome to return to Jorenn Village, and Thorn said he would discuss it with them.[58]
Vax'ildan later presented the notebook to Spireling Gideor as evidence of Culwen and Derowen's smuggling, rather than give him Fracture as contracted.[59]
A cult, Anna Ripley, and Vox Machina[]
Official art of Percy in a prison cell before being freed by Vox Machina, by Wendy Sullivan Green.[art 5]
Percival de Rolo, seeking revenge for the Briarwoods' murder of his family, tracked one of the Briarwoods' allies, Dr. Anna Ripley, for a year until he finally found her, but before he could attack her he was captured by her guards and imprisoned in a jail cell in the Umbra Hills,[60][61] specifically Jorenn Village.[62]
In the comic book adaptation of pre-stream events, Ripley had traveled to meet with the mining guild in the area to deliver an item they needed for a ritual to summon a nightmare. Percy attempted a surprise attack, but his weapon malfunctioned and he was arrested. Percy was then held in a prison cell in Jorenn Village, accused of being a cult leader and—more accurately—of the attempted murder of Dr. Ripley with the use of a demonic weapon.[63] Around that time, adventurers came to Eskil Ryndarien asking for assistance to save their friend, Grog, who had a phylactery festering in his chest. One of the components Eskil needed for a ritual to save Grog was the skull of a nightmare, and some of Eskil's compatriots had informed him about a hidden cult dancing with a fiery horse in the northern Umbra Hills near Jorenn Village.[64] Three of the adventurers—Scanlan, Pike, and Keyleth—traveled to the area and, seeking leads on cult activity, were directed to the prison in the village, where they were told a cult leader was jailed. The jailor said the sole prisoner was arrested a couple of weeks earlier, and allowed the adventurers to speak with Percy. Percy alerted them that the man who ran the prison, Jasper, was part of the cult, along with the mining guild, and that the cult planned to summon the nightmare that very night, on the new moon. He persuaded them to help him escape, and he led them to the ritual and helped them slay the summoned nightmare. He then chose to follow the party back to Westruun, using horses from the village.[65]
Aftermath[]
By 812 PD, the Shadewatch had fallen to corruption, and in many ways functioned as an organized crime syndicate, requiring protection fees from the citizenry and harming those who would not or could not pay. By that time, Shademaster Arhanna Lewyn was sending a trio of Shadewatch agents into the Umbra Hills or to Gatshadow Mountain weekly for unknown purposes.[66] This state of affairs continued through at least 836 PD, by which time the Shademaster had sent messages to all the criminal and otherwise dubious organizations of Tal'Dorei, including the Myriad and the League of Miracles, in hopes of furthering her plans.[6]
Trivia[]
- Jorenn Village was the setting for "Critical Role: Bar Room Blitz" (Sx21), which may or not be canon in the Critical Role universe.
References[]
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 95.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 64.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 111. See also p. 114.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 85.
- ↑ See "Critical Role: Bar Room Blitz" (Sx21) at 9:38.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 96.
- ↑ Roughly 70 years prior to 812 PD. See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 64.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 64. The organization was formed "ten years ago" at the time the Tal'Dorei Campaign Guide is set in 812 PD.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 151. See also p. 115.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 115. See also pp. 294, 312, and 317.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 151. See also p. 242.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 161.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 242.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, pp. 151–152. See also p. 317.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 312. See also pp. 335–336.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 152.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 243.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 156. See also p. 210.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 157. See also p. 239.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1
Critical Role (@CriticalRole) on Twitter: "Check out our updated timeline featuring ALL of our epic adventures throughout Exandria -- including Campaign 3! ⚔️" (2021-10-28).
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 128. See also p. 130.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, pp. 300–301.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 271. See also p. 289.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 94. See also p. 109.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 145.
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 239.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 162.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 302.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 221. See also p. 238.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 267.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 299. See also p. 348.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 60.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 294.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 88.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 95. See also p. 180.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 123.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 144.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 181.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 184.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 189.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 191.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 193.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 196.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 203.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 205.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, pp. 208–212.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 221.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 238.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 254.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 283.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, pp. 285–286.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, pp. 297–301.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, pp. 300–304.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, pp. 307–313.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, pp. 317–320.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, pp. 328–329.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, pp. 337–338.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, pp. 342–343.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin, p. 337. See also pp. 348–349.
- ↑ See "The Story of Vox Machina" (Sx06) at 2:54.
- ↑ See "The Feast" (1x24) at 0:22:37.
- ↑ See "Taryon, My Wayward Son" (1x97) at 1:53:33.
- ↑ See Vox Machina Origins Series II, Issue #5, pp. 4–11.
- ↑ See Vox Machina Origins Series II, Issue #4, p. 4.
- ↑ See Vox Machina Origins Series II, Issue #5, pp. 3–23.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, pp. 64–65.
Art:
- ↑ Official art of Vox Machina approaching Jorenn Village, by Olivia Samson from Vox Machina Origins II #5. Used with permission.
- ↑ Official map of Jorenn Village and surrounding areas, by Andy Law from Critical Role: Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting. This file is a copyrighted work. Its use in this article is asserted to qualify as fair use of the material under United States copyright law.
- ↑ Fan art of the Ass Sailor in Jorenn Village, by Shara Maestache (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Derowen, by Jess Radley (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Official art of Percy in a prison cell before being freed by Vox Machina, by Wendy Sullivan Green (source). Used with permission.
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